During an appearance on a podcast, the TV show host and singer-songwriter shared the chilling details of the incident, crediting Donald Trump, who immediately vowed to handle the matter himself, with saving their lives.
In early February 2025, Kathie Lee Gifford made a revealing appearance on the “Sage Steele Podcast,” where she opened up about pivotal moments in her life.
During the interview, she reflected on many things, including her decades-long career, the enduring grief of losing her husband, Frank Gifford, and her complex friendship with President Donald Trump.
Dressed casually in a knitted sweater and jeans, Kathie also shared a harrowing story from 31 years ago when she was preparing to host the Miss America Pageant.
She had her newborn daughter with her when the FBI contacted her husband, warning that a dangerous criminal was on the loose and targeting his wife.
The FBI urged Frank to continue as if nothing was wrong so the criminal wouldn’t realize they were onto him. Frank, however, refused to proceed without securing his wife’s safety.Amid the chaos, he immediately turned to none other than Donald for help. The president, without hesitation, assured Frank that he would handle the situation personally.
“[…] Donald said — this is why I will love this man for my whole life — he said, ‘Frank don’t you worry about it. I’ve got your girls. I’ve got your girls and don’t you worry,” Kathie recalled, holding back tears.According to the singer-songwriter, Frank then called the FBI back, informing them that he had Donald’s word that he would take care of the situation.
Knowing nothing about what was going on, Kathie then received a call from Donald himself the next day, who told her he was sending his private helicopter to ensure she and her daughter returned home safely, as well as security guards for her protection.
She was then greeted by an extensive security detail. “There were four of his security guys there,” she recalled, still piecing together the extent of his intervention.
For days, she had round-the-clock protection, with armed guards stationed outside her hotel room. It wasn’t until the day of the pageant that she fully grasped the gravity of the situation.Picking up a newspaper, she was stunned to see a headline about a death threat against her. “I read it and thought, ‘Oh, I’m kind of interested in that story,'” she recounted. Only then did she realize the extent of the danger and the measures that had been taken to protect her.
Despite the chilling revelation, Kathie refused to be intimidated. When asked if she wanted to back out of hosting, she responded firmly, “Hell no! Nobody’s going to make me afraid.”
The show went on as planned, with Donald’s security detail remaining by her side. After the pageant, Kathie was discreetly taken home via a different route to avoid any lingering threats. Unbeknownst to her, an FBI agent had also been stationed at her home in Connecticut, protecting her three-year-old son, Cody.
Days later, while at the movies with her son, an FBI agent approached her with the news that the suspect had been captured. His capture brought relief, but the terrifying ordeal remained a vivid memory.
“That’s my friend. Donald saved my life, saved my daughter’s life and if I called him today [he] would save it again. […] People don’t know that about him,” Kathie said.
Her story sheds light on a lesser-known side of Donald, offering a glimpse into their friendship and the gratitude she still holds for him to this day.
Her recent appearance on the “Sage Steele Podcast” isn’t the only time Kathie Lee Gifford has made headlines lately. Just weeks earlier, she joined “Today” for Hoda Kotb’s farewell episode, where her look sparked a wave of reactions.
Kathie surprised Hoda on January 10, her final day on the “Today with Jenna & Friends” show. While her appearance added elegance to the occasion, a video shared online sparked mixed reactions from netizens.